By Brian L. Harbour
John is not talking about this general kind of faith, however. He is talking about a particular kind of faith, and he describes it in verse 5. He who overcomes the world is "he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Christian faith means to put our faith in Christ. A faith in Jesus which causes us to believe in Him, talk to Him, walk with Him and abide in Him -- that faith is the key to overcoming the world.
What does faith do?
First, faith makes available to us the presence of God.
When David Livingstone, the great missionary to Africa, was called back to London to receive an honor, he was presented the award before a great gathering of well-wishers. Someone asked him how he had been able to make it through when natives rose up against him and when the power of darkness seemed about ready to overwhelm him. He opened his well-worn New Testament and said, "let me share with you the verse that helped me make it through: 'Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"
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Because of our faith, we know that God is with us every step of the way, and the promise of His presence provides victory.
Second, our faith opens to us the power of God.
Many years ago A. J. Gordon went to the World's Fair. From a distance, he saw a man in a brilliant suit, pumping water with one of these old hand pumps. The water was pouring out and he said as he looked from a distance, "That man is really pumping water." But when he got closer, he discovered that it was a wooden man connected to a pump powered by electricity. The man was not pumping the water -- the water was pumping him!
So it is with us. From a distance, some might look at us and say, "That guy really has power. Look at the way he lives. He is really living for God." But when they get closer they discover that it is actually God who is living in us.
The power of God is ample, and it is available. Through faith, we plug into that power and it begins to move through us. This power provides victory, because "greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world" (
1 Jn. 4:4).
Third, faith reminds us of the plan of God. In Revelation, John describes a time in the future when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever" (
Rev. 11:15). God has initiated a plan in this world that is permanent and eternal. The things of the world will someday fade away, and every knee shall bow before Christ. Faith reminds us of that great truth, that the final victory belongs to God, and therefore faith encourages us to keep fighting.
Do you believe that God is with you everywhere you go? Do you believe that God is able to provide for all of your needs? Do you believe that the things of God are permanent and eternal and that God will ultimately win the victory? Do you really have faith? If so, then you too can be an Overcomer.